BASF forms public-private partnership with CIMMYT

29/03/06 BASF and CIMMYT, the international maize and wheat research center, have signed a development and commercialization agreement for a new CLEARFIELD technology. Under license from BASF, CIMMYT will introduce the CLEARFIELD trait into maize germplasm adapted to eastern and southern Africa to the benefit of millions of smallholder farmers whose maize harvest is devastated by the parasitic weed Striga.

This novel public-private partnership includes cooperation between BASF, CIMMYT, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), local public research systems and seed companies to provide CLEARFIELD maize genetics to African farmers. Local seed companies will produce commercial CLEARFIELD maize seed, which will be treated with StrigAway, a novel seed coating to control Striga.

Striga is a parasitic weed that attaches to the roots of the host plant and does damage before the plant has emerged. Striga causes yield losses ranging from 20 to 80 percent. In contrast to crop spraying, StrigAway seed coating is highly effective against Striga because it protects the plant throughout the entire growth process. StrigAway is also ideal for smallholder farmers in agriculture because it is easy to use and does not require sophisticated equipment or training.

Due to ineffective control measures, Striga has infested over 40 million hectares of maize in Africa, resulting in damages of over €1.2 billion a year. Maize is the most important food crop in sub-Saharan Africa and thus plays a major role in providing food security.

“This partnership with CIMMYT, AATF, local researchers and local seed companies enables BASF to offer African farmers a new, effective Striga control solution. The unique nature of Striga has rendered many other interventions ineffective. StrigAway offers farmers in affected areas the opportunity to realize consistent yield improvements and contribute to poverty reduction and increased food security,” said Emmanuel Butstraen, Group Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, BASF Agricultural Products Division.

“Striga affects primarily smallholder and poor farmers, so they will benefit the most from this novel technology”, said Masa Iwanaga, CIMMYT Director General. “And it is through the combined engagement of all partners – CIMMYT, BASF, AATF, local researchers and seed companies – that the technology can be made available to improve people’s food security and lead to more sustainable use of resources for future generations, a clear contribution to sustainable development.”

“Linking poor smallholder farmers with technologies that improve their ability to produce food and working with these farmers to ensure that their productivity is increased is only possible through collaborative partnerships with organizations committed to these farmers,” said Mpoko Bokanga, Executive Director AATF.